Will You or Won't You?
Kunzite stood in the shadows, watching the people moving around him. There were many celebrations tonight, but he chose not to take part in any of them instead clinging to the areas of darkness left in the wake of the large bonfires. Word spread quickly around the Middle Eastern Kingdom of a possible alliance between the people of Earth and the goddess of the moon. He had met the legendary goddess that his people worshipped - he had met all of the goddess that the people of Earth prayed to. Their love of these goddesses made him uneasy knowing that their absolute adoration could very easily be turned to hate or fear if they understood the true power of the Moon Kingdom.
His hands were clenched behind his back, his whole body covered in a dark travelers cloak in an attempt to mask his appearance. A man with his features could not easily blend into the crowd, in fact Jadeite often joked that his presence alone stood out in a crowd. The energy of his people drew him away from his palace and towards the roaring bonfire where beautiful women danced around the flames in bright clothing made of scarves and veils. Yet despite the throngs of people he felt alone. He had been touched by the golden goddess and now without her he felt as though a part of him had been left behind on the moon. He often wondered if people could sense this about him. Could they tell by looking at him that he was no longer the man that he was? Were his weaknesses now written so plainly across his features that he would no longer be able to maintain and assert his control? She was a blessing and a curse in disguise, although he could never ascertain which she was more of.
A soft light flickered behind him and his body stiffened, prepared for whatever it was that sought to catch him off guard. His hand immediately slid around the hilt of his sword, his fingers falling into place over the familiar grooves that had been worn into the metal.
“There is much celebration taking place all around you, yet you hide like a common thief. How unbecoming of the man that I’ve heard so much about over the past few days,” a feminine voice mused from behind him.
He turned to look at the source of the voice and found a woman dressed in a fuku similar to what his goddess Venus wore. The woman was beautiful; her features were a melody of sophistication with tendrils of aqua hair falling in waves just past her shoulders. She was older than the other senshi he had met, although he wasn’t sure how he knew that. “They don’t know why they are celebrating,” he muttered, keeping his eyes on the woman in front of him. It was made clear to all of the Shitennou that the Princess was not supposed to visit the Earth even if Endymion willed her to. What was not understood was whether or not the same rule applied to her senshi. There was never an explicit decree stating one way or the other, yet there was an understanding the Earth was to remain unvisited. That didn’t always stop his lover from doing so when she chose to, but this new woman stood before him as though she belonged to her own set of rules and he had no doubt that she enforced them whenever she chose to as well.
“The women are beautiful are they not?” She looked over to the dancing figures outlined by the flames. The heat of the fire caused beads of moisture to collect on their trim bodies, bits of their hair clung seductively to their arms, their scarves beginning to adhere tighter against their skin. “A man of your ranking could surely have his choosing of them. I wonder why you do not go and claim one.”
“I have no interest in any of them.”
“She is not yours and you cannot have her.”
His eyes narrowed at the woman, her words were firm but there was a playfulness to her eyes. The reflection of the fire danced in her green orbs giving him a glimpse of the danger that laid beneath the serene features of this new goddess. “I have made no claim to her.” He knew what she was implying - no names were needed to know that she held her own feelings of reverence for the golden haired beauty. Someone like Venus would always draw people to her whether out of lust or love. There was no denying her when she looked your way.
“Then why do you allow her to fall in love with you?”
“I can’t control her heart anymore than I can control my own.”
“If you love her, than do you not claim her?”
“She is like the sunshine. I could not live without it, but I would never be so vain as to believe that I could hold its essence in my hands.” His eyes seemed to cloud over as he imagined her standing before him.
“It is not love that you feel, man from Earth,” she spoke coolly. “The power of a planet is so desirable that it is easy to mistake your love for her body with your lust for her power. She is a beautiful girl, I will not dispute this fact, but you should understand what she really is.”
Kunzite grabbed the woman and pulled her against him, a small gasp escaping through her lips, although her features did nothing to reflect her shock as he pressed his lips firmly against hers. She attempted to push him away and opened her mouth to protest, but he only silenced her further by sliding his tongue between her lips and caressing it against her own. After a few seconds she stopped fighting him and allowed his trespass. His hands rested on her checks, holding her lips against his as he deepened the kiss, eliciting a moan from her. As he pulled back, he noticed the look in her eyes had darkened. “If it was the power of a planet that I lusted for then you would have found yourself in my bed.” He stepped away from her and mused over her incredulous expression. “Although I suppose that’s what you were hoping for, wasn’t it?” He turned from her and walked back towards his palace, keeping to the shadows as if the light would burn him.
Neptune watched his calm gait and ground the heel of her boot into the ground. Uranus had tried and failed to discourage the Venusian from continuing her affair with the silver haired Shitennou, so Neptune had decided that perhaps she could dissuade the man instead, but he held firm to his loyalties. It was a pity really; a man that was powerful enough to command the attention of the Princess of Venus surely would have made it worth her while. Perhaps it would have been enough to distract her thoughts from her own forbidden love affair.